Confession Abroad: Valid Or Not?

Confession is a common practice in many religions, including Catholicism, Lutheranism, Anglicanism, Methodism, Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, and Judaism. It is the act of acknowledging and admitting to sinful thoughts and actions, which is often seen as a necessary step towards repentance, penance, atonement, and ultimately, forgiveness.

In the Catholic Church, confession, or the Sacrament of Penance, is conducted within a confessional box, booth, or reconciliation room. During this sacrament, individuals confess their sins to a priest, who then assigns an act of penance for absolution.

While my search did not yield specific information about the validity of confessions while travelling abroad, it is clear that confession is an important practice in many religions and is often conducted in person with a spiritual guide or leader. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that confessions made while travelling abroad would be valid as long as they adhere to the requirements and rituals of the respective religion.

Forced confessions

The use of forced confessions has been greatly reduced due to developments in the 20th century, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Still, they have been accepted for most of legal history and continue to be accepted in some jurisdictions today.

One example of a forced confession is the case of Mohamed Ramadan, a father of three in Bahrain who was arrested and accused of involvement in an attack on police officers. Despite a lack of evidence, Ramadan was tortured by police and forced to sign a false confession. He was not allowed to meet with his lawyer until the day his trial began, and he was convicted and sentenced to death based on this coerced confession.

Another example involves the Birmingham Six, six men from Northern Ireland accused of carrying out the Birmingham pub bombings in 1974. Four of the six confessed to the crime after experiencing intimidation and torture by police, including the use of dogs and mock executions. After serving 17 years in prison, an appeal was allowed, and all six individuals were released and compensated.

In addition to physical torture, forced confessions can also be induced through coercive interrogation techniques. The Reid Technique, introduced in the 1940s and 1950s in the United States, involves a nine-step process that includes direct confrontation, presenting a hypothesis to minimize the moral implications of the crime, and frequent interruptions. While this technique has led to countless confessions, it has been criticized for relying on deception, coercion, and aggressive confrontation.

The use of forced confessions violates the right to a fair trial and is considered an attack on human dignity. Rights groups have urged the United Nations to recommend legal reforms to stop forced televised confessions and strengthen due process protections.

Validity of confessions in different countries

The validity of confessions varies across different countries and legal systems. In criminal law, a confession is a statement by a suspect that is adverse to their interests in a criminal investigation. While some countries like Japan require additional independent evidence to support a confession, others like the UK and India have outlawed the use of confessions obtained through torture or oppression.

In religious contexts, confession is the acknowledgment of sinful thoughts and actions, which may be made directly to a deity or to a religious official. In Catholicism, confession is one of the seven sacraments and is considered a prerequisite for forgiveness and absolution. However, the specific practices surrounding confession vary between Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran, Anglican, Methodist, and other Christian denominations.

In non-Western contexts, confession plays a role in legal and religious systems as well. For example, in Hinduism, confession is part of Prāyaścitta, which refers to voluntarily accepting one's errors and misdeeds, while in Islam, confession of sins is made directly to God, and only in specific cases to another person.

Religion and confession

Catholicism

Catholics believe that the Sacrament of Penance is the method by which individuals can confess their sins and be absolved by God through a priest. This is done within a confessional box, booth, or reconciliation room. The penitent must make a sincere confession of all known mortal sins and pray an Act of Contrition, expressing sorrow and a resolve to not sin again. The priest then assigns an act of penance, which could be a form of prayer, service, or work of mercy.

The basic form of confession has not changed for centuries, although it was once done publicly. The concept of private confession is known as sub rosa, derived from Hellenistic and Roman mythology and later adopted into Christian symbolism.

The Catholic Church teaches that sacramental confession requires three "acts" from the penitent: contrition (sorrow for sins), disclosure of sins, and satisfaction (doing something to make amends). Typically, the penitent begins by saying, "Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been [time period] since my last confession."

The Catholic Church teaches that confession is not a tribunal where one is condemned by God, but rather a "wedding banquet hall" where the community celebrates Christ's victory over sin and death. God judges the person by granting them the ability to confess and then forgives them.

Eastern Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy

Eastern Catholic and Orthodox Christians choose a spiritual guide, often the parish priest, to whom they confess their sins and ask for advice. Orthodox Christians tend to confess only to this individual, creating a close bond. Only an ordained priest may grant absolution.

Confession usually takes place in the main part of the church, before an icon of Jesus Christ. The penitent venerates the Gospel Book and blessing cross and places their fingers on the feet of Christ as depicted on the cross. The priest reads an admonition, warning the penitent to make a full confession.

Lutheranism

Lutherans practice "confession and absolution" in two forms. The first is done during the Divine Service, where the congregation pauses for a moment of silent confession and then receives God's forgiveness from the pastor. The second form, "Holy Absolution", is done privately to the pastor, who pronounces absolution.

Reformed and Presbyterian Churches

Reformed and Presbyterian churches practice confession, repentance, and penance. This often takes the form of a confessional prayer read in unison, followed by an Assurance of Pardon.

Anabaptist Denominations

Anabaptist denominations encourage confession to another person or to elders, especially when a wrong has been done to another person. Confession is part of the reconciliation process and may be a prerequisite for readmission to the church after exclusion due to unrepentance.

Anglicanism

Anglicanism includes private or auricular confession, especially among Anglo-Catholics. The venue is usually a traditional confessional or a private meeting with a priest. Following confession and the assignment of penance, the priest pronounces absolution.

Methodism

Methodism includes corporate confession as the most common practice, with liturgy including "prayers of confession, assurance, and pardon." Private confession and absolution are also practised, and lay confession is permitted, although it is not the norm.

Irvingian Churches

In Irvingian Churches, such as the New Apostolic Church, persons may confess their sins to an Apostle, who then proclaims absolution. In cases of urgency, any priestly minister can hear confessions.

Hinduism

In Hinduism, confession is part of Prāyaścitta, referring to voluntarily accepting one's errors, confession, repentance, and expiation to reduce karmic consequences. Illustrative means of penance include austerities, fasting, pilgrimage, ascetic lifestyle, and giving gifts to the poor.

Islam

In Islam, confession of sins is made directly to God, and not through another person, except when confessing to a person is required to recompense for damage done.

Alcoholics Anonymous

In the AA Twelve-Step Program, confession is made in Step 5: "Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs."

Absolution and penance

Absolution is the remission of sin, or of the punishment due to sin, granted by the Church. It is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church, known in Eastern Christianity as sacred mysteries. The faithful are absolved from sins committed after baptism and reconciled with the Christian community. Absolution is granted by a priest, who is bound by the "seal of the confessional", which forbids them from sharing confessions under any circumstance.

During the Sacrament of Penance, mortal sins must be confessed, and venial sins may be confessed for devotional reasons. The priest may offer guidance and suggest ways to avoid sinning in the future. They will then give the penitent a penance, which could be a form of prayer, a service, or an act of mercy. The penitent then prays the Act of Contrition, expressing sorrow for their sins and a firm intention to avoid sin in the future.

The priest then imparts absolution, saying:

> God, the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of His Son has reconciled the world to Himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins. Through the ministry of the Church may God give you pardon and peace. And I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

The penitent then gives thanks to God and departs to fulfil their penance.

The Sacrament of Penance is a deeply personal and intimate experience, and it is understandable that one might feel intimidated or reluctant to share their sins with a priest. However, it is important to remember that God is merciful and desires to forgive. Additionally, the priest is not there to judge but to help facilitate reconciliation between the penitent and God.

The history of confession

The roots of confession can be found in the Hebrew Bible, where the need for confession is frequently stressed. The Jewish prophets' mission was to awaken a sense of sinfulness and guilt in the people, both personal and collective. This tradition continued with the early Christian Church, where public confession was common, especially for public sins. Private confession to a priest was also an option, and the early Church Fathers wrote extensively on the topic. For example, St. Augustine warned the faithful:

> "Let us not listen to those who deny that the Church of God has power to forgive all sins."

By the 5th century, the practice of confession was well-established in the Roman Church, with confessions heard at the beginning of Lent and penitents reconciled on Holy Thursday in preparation for Easter. Over time, the form of the sacrament changed, and by the end of the 11th century, only notorious sinners were reconciled on Holy Thursday.

The Fourth Lateran Council in 1215 imposed the obligation of annual confession upon all Christians and confirmed the priest's obligation to maintain secrecy, known as the "seal of the confessional". This council also made clear that only bishops and priests could exercise the power to forgive sins, and that confession was necessary for the remission of sins.

The Protestant Reformation brought changes to the practice of confession, with some Protestant Reformers rejecting the sacrament altogether, while others retained it with modifications. In modern times, the Roman Catholic Church continues to teach that confession is a sacrament instituted by Christ, and that absolution by a priest is an act of God's forgiveness.

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